Validation of Perioperative Troponin Levels for Predicting Postoperative Mortality and Long-Term Survival in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Hepatopancreato and biliary (HPB) tumors represent some of the leading cancer-related causes of death worldwide, with the majority of patients undergoing surgery in the context of a multimodal treatment strategy. Consequently, the implementation of an accurate risk stratification tool is crucial to facilitate informed consent, along with clinical decision making, and to compare surgical outcomes among different healthcare providers for either service evaluation or clinical audit. Perioperative troponin levels have been proposed as a feasible and easy-to-use tool in order to evaluate the risk of postoperative myocardial injury and 30-day mortality. The purpose of the present study is to validate the perioperative troponin levels as a prognostic factor regarding postoperative myocardial injury and 30-day mortality in Greek adult patients undergoing HPB surgery. Method: In total, 195 patients undergoing surgery performed by a single surgical team in a single tertiary hospital (2020-2022) were included. Perioperative levels of troponin before surgery and at 24 and 48 h postoperatively were assessed. Model accuracy was assessed by observed-to-expected (O:E) ratios, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Survival at one year postoperatively was compared between patients with high and normal TnT levels at 24 h postoperatively. Results: Thirteen patients (6.6%) died within 30 days of surgery. TnT levels at 24 h postoperatively were associated with excellent discrimination and provided the best-performing calibration. Patients with normal TnT levels at 24 h postoperatively were associated with higher long-term survival compared to those with high TnT levels. Conclusions: TnT at 24 h postoperatively is an efficient risk assessment tool that should be implemented in the perioperative pathway of patients undergoing surgery for HPB cancer.

Expression of the O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine-containing Epitope H (O-GlcNAcH) in Human Uterine Cervical Mucosa.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Epitope H contains an O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAcH) residue in a specific conformation or environment, recognized by a site-specific monoclonal mouse IgM antibody H. O-GlcNAcH occurs in several normal and pathological cells and in several polypeptides, including keratin-8 and vimentin, on the latter in cells under stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this work, we studied the distribution of O-GlcNAcH on cells of endocervical mucosa in 60 specimens of endocervical curettings, 10 of which contained 15 inflamed polyps. RESULTS: In our results, expression of O-GlcNAcH was weak in the mucosa with <5% mucin-secreting cells and up to 30% of the polyps staining positively. All non-ciliated, non-mucin-secreting cells, normal and hyperplastic 'reserve' cells, as well as the cells of immature squamous metaplasia, showed strong diffuse cytoplasmic staining for O-GlcNAcH. In mature squamous epithelium, fewer than 5% of basal cells and all the intermediate and superficial cells showed cytoplasmic staining for O-GlcNAcH, whereas parabasal cells were negative. All ciliated cells showed patchy or diffuse cytoplasmic staining. Nuclear staining for O-GlcNAcH was weak with fewer than 5% of hyperplastic 'reserve' and ciliated cells staining positively. Moreover, mucosal fibroblasts were negative, whereas all stromal cells of the polyps showed strong cytoplasmic staining for O-GlcNAcH. CONCLUSION: O-GlcNAcH is: a) differentially expressed among the cellular elements of mucosa and polyps, b) upregulated in mucin-secreting cells of polyps, c) induced in stromal cells of inflamed polyps, and d) can be used as a marker to differentiate between 'reserve' (positive) and parabasal (negative) cells, which have similar morphology using conventional cytological stains.

Central Pancreatectomy: Balancing between the Favorable Functional Results and the Increased Associated Morbidity.

Introduction Central pancreatectomy (CP) represents an organ-preserving type of pancreatic resection. The procedure has been associated with improved long-term functional results, but increased postoperative morbidity rates, compared with the more radical resection types. The purpose of the present study was to present the outcomes of three consecutive CPs performed in our department. Materials and Methods Between January 2021 and January 2022, three patients (A, B, and C) were submitted to a CP in our department. Relevant patient data including data of the detailed preoperative assessment, operations notes, and recovery charts were prospectively collected and reviewed for all subjects. A scheduled follow-up, at the outpatient clinic, was conducted to assess the long-term functional results. Results The postoperative course of patient A, a 56-year-old male, was complicated by a grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula that required a reoperation. Patient B, a 66-year-old female, developed a biochemical leak that resolved spontaneously while patient C, a 64-year-old male, had a completely uneventful recovery. The length of hospital stay for the three patients was 24, 12, and 8 days, respectively. Regarding the long-term results, patient B was lost to follow-up while both patient A and C were followed up, as outpatients, 21 and 10 months after the operation. During follow-up, in patient A, we did not record the presence of symptoms consistent with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels were 7.1% while no additional medications were needed to be prescribed to maintain the glycemic control following surgery. In patient C, a significant weight loss was recorded (body mass index reduction of 11 kg/m 2 ) without however the presence of malabsorption-specific symptoms. The HbA1C levels were 7.7% and optimal glycemic control was achieved with oral antiglycemic agents alone. Conclusion CP should be regarded as a type of pancreatic resection with certain and very limited oncological indications. An approach of balancing the advantages out of the superior postoperative functional results with the drawbacks of the increased procedure-associated morbidity could highlight the patient group that could potentially experience benefits out of this limited type of resection.

Microvessel Density (MVD) in Patients with Osteosarcoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A meta-analysis was designed and conducted to estimate the effect of tumoral microvessel density (MVD) on the survival of patients with osteosarcoma. There was no difference between high and low MVD regarding the overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) survival. Low MVD tumors displayed a lower DFS at the third year of follow-up. Although primary metastases did not affect the mean MVD measurements, tumors with a good chemotherapy response had a higher MVD value. Although no significant differences between tumoral MVD, OS and DFS were found, good adjuvant therapy responders had a significant higher vascularization pattern.

From Classic Whipple to Pylorus Preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy and Ultimately to Pylorus Resecting - Stomach Preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Review.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the procedure of choice for benign or malignant tumors of the periampullary region. The preservation of the pylorus has been established as the mostly utilized approach during pancreaticoduodenectomy among the majority of specialized, in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer, centers worldwide. The factors that influenced this predilection are the shorter operation times, the less intraoperative blood loss, the decreased technical difficulty, and the quite similar short- and long-term outcomes compared to the classic Whipple. However, there is a notable trend in the literature highlighting the increased incidence of delayed gastric emptying following pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Among other factors, pylorus dysfunction attributable to the surgical maneuvers has been implemented in the etiology of this complication. In an attempt to overcome this limitation of the pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, pylorus resecting pancreaticoduodenectomy with the preservation of the stomach was proposed. In theory, pylorus resecting pancreaticoduodenectomy could maintain the advantages of organ sparing surgery, but at the same time guarantee a more seamless gastric emptying. Only three RCTs, to date, aimed to evaluate the approach with only one reporting results in favor of the pylorus resecting pancreaticoduodenectomy in regard to the incidence of delayed gastric emptying. Further well-designed prospective randomized studies are needed for an accurate assessment of the true role of each of these surgical alternatives on the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Bladder Cancer during Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature.

Bladder malignancy represents the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth in women in the western world. Women under 75 years of age have a risk of 0.5-1% of developing bladder cancer. The diagnosis usually occurs between 65 and 70 years of age, whereas the mortality rate for women varies from 0.5 to 4 per 100,000 every year. Nulliparous women present a greater risk than women who have given birth. The risk is further decreased when parity increases. Theoretically, hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy play a protective role. Smoking and occupational exposure to specific chemicals are the most common risk factors of bladder cancer. Other risk factors such as chronic urinary tract inflammation, cyclophosphamide, radiotherapy, and familial correlation have been reported. The aim of this review is to highlight a rare combination, which is the co-existence of bladder malignancy and pregnancy. We present thirteen different cases of women who were diagnosed with malignant bladder tumors during their pregnancy. A review of the literature was conducted, focusing on the unspecific symptoms, possible diagnostic tools, and suitable treatment modalities. The management of bladder cancer in pregnancy is a challenging process. The fragile balance between the possible complications of pregnancy and maternal health is yet to be discussed.

Microvessel density in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are considered the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Microvessel density (MVD) constitutes a direct method of vascularity quantification and has been associated with survival rates in multiple malignancies. AIM: To appraise the effect of MVD on the survival of patients with GIST. METHODS: This study adhered to Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Electronic scholar databases and grey literature repositories were systematically screened. The Fixed Effects or Random Effects models were used according to the Cochran Q test. RESULTS: In total, 6 eligible studies were identified. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for disease free survival (DFS) was 8.52 (95%CI: 1.69-42.84, P = 0.009). The odds ratios of disease-free survival between high and low MVD groups at 12 and 60 mo did not reach statistical significance. Significant superiority of the low MVD group in terms of DFS was documented at 36 and 120 mo (OR: 8.46, P < 0.0001 and OR: 22.71, P = 0.0003, respectively) as well as at metastases rate (OR: 0.11, P = 0.0003). CONCLUSION: MVD significantly correlates with the HR of DFS and overall survival rates at 36 and 120 mo. Further prospective studies of higher methodological quality are required.

Advantages and Limitations of Ultrasound as a Screening Test for Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the seventh most common malignancy diagnosed among women, the eighth leading cause of cancer mortality globally, and the most common cause of death among all gynecological cancers. Even though recent advances in technology have allowed for more accurate radiological and laboratory diagnostic tests, approximately 60% of OC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Given the high mortality rate of advanced stages of OC, early diagnosis remains the main prognostic factor. Our aim is to focus on the sonographic challenges in ovarian cancer screening and to highlight the importance of sonographic evaluation, the crucial role of the operator΄s experience, possible limitations in visibility, emphasizing the importance and the necessity of quality assurance protocols that health workers have to follow and finally increasing the positive predictive value. We also analyzed how ultrasound can be combined with biomarkers (ex. CA-125) so as to increase the sensitivity of early-stage OC detection or, in addition to the gold standard examination, the CT (Computed tomography) scan in OC follow-up. Improvements in the performance and consistency of ultrasound screening could reduce the need for repeated examinations and, mainly, ensure diagnostic accuracy. Finally, we refer to new very promising techniques such as liquid biopsies. Future attempts in order to improve screening should focus on the identification of features that are unique to OC and that are present in early-stage tumors.

Averting an Unnecessary Revision of a Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy by Surgically Creating an Access Point for the Endoscopic Assessment of the Anastomosis: A Report of a Case.

Introduction: Primary sclerosing cholangitis sets the scene for several pathologies of both the intrahepatic and the extrahepatic biliary tree. Surgical treatment, when needed, is almost unanimously summarized in the creation of a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, a procedure with a relatively high associated failure rate. Presentation of case: A 70-year-old male, diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, was submitted to a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy due to a dominant stricture of the extrahepatic biliary tree. Recurrent episodes of acute cholangitis dictated a workup in the direction of a possible stenosis at the level of the anastomosis. The imaging studies were inconclusive while both the endoscopic and the transhepatic approach failed to assess the status of the anastomosis. A laparotomy, with the intent to revise a high suspicion for stenosis hepaticojejunostomy, was decided. Intraoperatively, a decision to assess the hepaticojejunostomy prior to the scheduled surgical revision, via endoscopy, was made. In this direction, an enterotomy was made on the short jejunal blind loop in order to gain luminal access and an endoscope was propelled through the enterotomy towards the biliary enteric anastomosis. Results: The inspection of the anastomosis under direct endoscopic vision showed no evidences of stenosis and averted an unnecessary, under these circumstances, revision of the anastomosis. Conclusions: The surgical revision of a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is a highly demanding operation with an increased associated morbidity, and it should be reserved as the final resort in the treatment algorithm. An approach of utilizing surgery to facilitate the endoscopic assessment prior to proceeding to the surgical revision of the anastomosis appears justified.

Large Cyst of Skene Gland: A Rare Perineum Mass.

Objective In this report we present a rare case of a large cyst of Skene gland in a female patient with a palpable vaginal mass persisting for at least 2 years. Case Report A 67-year-old female admitted to the department of urology due to the presence of "a vaginal mass" for the past 2 years. A cyst of Skene's duct was suspected based on clinical manifestation and findings of magnetic resonance imaging showing an extensive cyst formation in the upper vaginal area and anterior to the urethra. Based on these findings, a decision for surgical removement of the cyst was made. The cyst was incised, drained, and marsupialized. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day. Conclusion High clinical suspicion is important to reach this rare diagnosis. Partial excision and marsupialization of the cyst is a simple procedure with low morbidity, without recurrence, and excellent results.

Validation of the Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT) and SORT v2 for Predicting Postoperative Mortality in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer surgery is related to significant mortality, thus necessitating the accurate assessment of perioperative risk to enhance treatment decision making. A Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT) and SORT v2 have been developed to provide enhanced risk stratification. Our aim was to validate the accuracy of SORT and SORT v2 in pancreatic cancer surgery. METHOD: Two hundred and twelve patients were included and underwent pancreatic surgery for cancer. The surgeries were performed by a single surgical team in a single tertiary hospital (2016-2022). We assessed a total of four risk models: SORT, SORT v2, POSSUM (Physiology and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity), and P-POSSUM (Portsmouth-POSSUM). The accuracy of the model was evaluated using an observed-to-expected (O:E) ratio and the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate was 3.3% (7 patients). Both SORT and SORT v2 demonstrated excellent discrimination traits (AUC: 0.98 and AUC: 0.98, respectively) and provided the best-performing calibration in the total analysis. However, both tools underestimated the 30-day mortality. Furthermore, both reported a high level of calibration and discrimination in the subgroup of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, with previous ERCP, and CA19-9 ≥ 500 U/mL. CONCLUSIONS: SORT and SORT v2 are efficient risk-assessment tools that should be adopted in the perioperative pathway, shared decision-making (SDM) process, and counseling of patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing surgery.

Metachronous Single Pulmonary Metastasis of Prostate Cancer: Report of a Rare Case and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer recurrence after definitive local therapy usually involves the bone and regional lymph nodes. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 72-year-old male patient with an isolated lung nodule, seven years after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, pT2bN0 and Gleason score 7(4+3), and prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) levels within normal limits. The nodule was considered as a primary lung cancer and the patient was subjected to lobectomy. The immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor was PSA(+) and NKX3.1 (+), revealing that it was metastasis from prostatic cancer and that wedge resectomy was the proper procedure. Three years later the patient is disease-free, suggesting the importance of aggressive treatment of oligometastatic disease. CONCLUSION: Metastasis to the lung is present in more than 40% of men with metastatic prostate cancer; however, lung metastases without any bone or lymph node involvement are extremely rare and only a handful of cases are reported in the literature. Surgical excision of the metastatic lung site is the most common therapeutic approach associated with a good prognosis.

Ovarian Cancer and Glutamine Metabolism.

Cancer cells are known to have a distinct metabolic profile and to exhibit significant changes in a variety of metabolic mechanisms compared to normal cells, particularly glycolysis and glutaminolysis, in order to cover their increased energy requirements. There is mounting evidence that there is a link between glutamine metabolism and the proliferation of cancer cells, demonstrating that glutamine metabolism is a vital mechanism for all cellular processes, including the development of cancer. Detailed knowledge regarding its degree of engagement in numerous biological processes across distinct cancer types is still lacking, despite the fact that such knowledge is necessary for comprehending the differentiating characteristics of many forms of cancer. This review aims to examine data on glutamine metabolism and ovarian cancer and identify possible therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer treatment.

Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy vs. hemorrhoid artery ligation and recto-anal repair: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Several surgical techniques for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) have been proposed. However, the selection of the most proper technique for each individual case scenario is still a matter of debate. The purpose of the present study was to compare the Milligan-Morgan (MM) hemorrhoidectomy and the hemorrhoidal artery ligation and rectoanal repair (HAL-RAR) technique. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected database of patients submitted to HD surgery in our department was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups, the MM group and the HAL-RAR group. Primary end points were recurrence rates and patients' satisfaction rates. The Unpaired t test was used to compare numerical variables while the x2 test for categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients were identified, submitted either to HAL-RAR or MM hemorrhoidectomy. Eight (8) patients were lost to follow up and were excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining 116 patients, 69 patients (54 males and 15 females-male / female ratio: 3.6) with a median age of 47 years old (range 18-69) were included in the HAL-RAR group while 47 patients (40 males and 7 females-male / female ratio: 5.7) with a median age of 52 years old (range 32-71) comprised the MM group. At a median follow up of 41 months (minimum 24 months-maximum 72 months), we recorded 20 recurrences (28.9%) in the HAL-RAR group and 9 recurrences in the MM group (19.1%) (p 0.229). The mean time from the procedure to the recurrence was 14.1 ± 9.74 months in the HAL-RAR group and 21 ± 13.34 months in the MM group. Patients with itching, pain or discomfort as the presenting symptoms of HD experienced statistically significantly lower recurrences (p 0.0354) and reported statistically significantly better satisfaction rates (6.72 ± 2.15 vs. 8.11 ± 1.99-p 0.0111) when submitted to MM. In the subgroup of patients with bleeding as the presenting symptom, patients satisfaction rates were significantly better (8.59 ± 1.88 vs. 6.45 ± 2.70-p 0.0013) in the HAL-RAR group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pain, itching or discomfort as the presenting symptoms of HD, MM was associated with less recurrences and better patients satisfaction rates compared to HAL-RAR. In patients with bleeding as the main presenting symptom of HD, HAL-RAR was associated with better patients' satisfaction rates and similar recurrence rates compared to MM.

Portal Vein Thrombosis after C-Section in a Patient with Polycythemia Vera (PV) Due to Pregnancy and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA).

Polycythemia vera (PV) is one of the three main classic disorders of Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), with the other two being essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). PV may develop (15%) in women of childbearing age (15-45 years), with an anticipated rate of roughly 0.3 per 100,000 people, although maintaining a male to female ratio predominance of about 2:1 and a peak prevalence in the sixth and seventh decades of life. Without always being presented with its actual clinical manifestations due to pregnancy itself, and most commonly due to iron deficiency, PV can be frequently missed and therefore belatedly diagnosed. We describe the case of a primipara woman in her 40s, without risk factors for thrombosis, who developed a portal vein occlusion 1.5 month postpartum after C-section and who had a delayed diagnosis of PV.

Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Is an R1 Hepatic Resection Accepted?

Metastatic colorectal cancer is associated with a rather dismal 5-year overall survival. The liver is the most commonly affected organ. Improved 5-year survival rates after successful hepatic resections for metastases confined to the liver have been reported. Certainly, a hepatectomy that results in an incomplete tumor resection, in terms of leaving macroscopic residual tumor in the future liver remnant, is not associated with survival benefits. However, the prognostic implications of a microscopically positive surgical margin or a clear margin of less than 1 mm (R1) on pathology are debatable. Although it has been a field of extensive research, the relevant literature often reports contradictory results. The purpose of the present study was to define, assess the risk factors for, and, ultimately, analyze the effect that an R1 hepatic resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases might have on local recurrence rates and long-term prognosis by reviewing the relevant literature. Achieving an R0 hepatic resection, optimally with more than 1 mm of clear margin, should always be the goal. However, in the era of the aggressive multimodality treatment of liver metastatic colorectal cancer, an R1 resection might be the cost of increasing the pool of patients finally eligible for resection. The majority of literature reports have highlighted the detrimental effect of R1 resections on local recurrence and overall survival. However, there are indeed studies that degraded the prognostic handicap as a consequence of an R1 resection in selected patients and highlighted the presence of RAS mutations, the response to chemotherapy, and, in general, factors that reflect the biology of the disease as important, if not the determinant, prognostic factors. In these patients, the aggressive disease biology seems to outperform the resection margin status as a prognostic factor, and the recorded differences between R1 and R0 resections are equalized. Properly and accurately defining this patient group is a future challenge in the field of the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy: a single institution's 6-year experience.

Background: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is an emergency commonly managed by a surgical department. The interventional part of the standard treatment algorithm includes laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) under imaging guidance is recommended as the first-line approach in the subset of high-risk patients for perioperative complications, as a bridging therapy to elective surgery or as a definitive solution. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mortality and morbidity of PC performed under computed tomographic (CT) guidance in patients at high surgical risk. Methods: Medical and imaging records from all consecutive patients who underwent a CTPC between 2015 and 2020 were reviewed. Adult patients with a definite indication for CTPC were recruited and mortality 7 and 30 days post-procedure was recorded. Variables potentially affecting those outcomes were retrieved and included in our analysis. Results: Eighty-six consecutive patients at high risk for surgical management were identified and included in the present study. Most patients (58.1%) were diagnosed with AC, while 14 (16.3%) had concurrent AC and cholangitis, 13 (15.2%) gallbladder empyema, and 9 (10.4%) hydrops. The 7- and 30-day mortality rates were 16.3% (14/86) and 22.1% (19/86), respectively, and were significantly associated with patients' hospitalization in the intensive care unit (P<0.05). Other parameters investigated, such as age, sex, diagnosis, catheter diameter, and duration of hospital stay were not significantly associated with our primary outcome. Conclusion: PC is a safe alternative to surgery in patients with high perioperative risk, thus providing acceptable mortality rates.

Bioinformatic Analysis of the BCL-xL/BCL2L1 Interactome in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyze the differential gene expression of BCL-xL/BCL2L and the associated genetic, molecular, and biologic functions in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by employing advanced bioinformatics to investigate potential candidate genes implicated in the pathogenesis of PDAC. Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic techniques were employed to build the gene network of BCL-xL, to assess the translational profile of BCL-xL in PDAC, assess its role in predicting PDAC, and investigate the associated biologic functions and the regulating miRNA families. Results: Microarray data extracted from one dataset was incorporated, including 130 samples (PDAC: 69; Control: 61). In addition, the expression level of BCL-xL was higher in PDAC compared to control samples (p < 0.001). Furthermore, BCL-xL demonstrated excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.83 [95% Confidence Intervals: 0.76, 0.90]; p < 0.001) and calibration (R squared: 0.31) traits for PDAC. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated the molecular functions and miRNA families (hsa-miR-4804-5p, hsa-miR-4776-5p, hsa-miR-6770-3p, hsa-miR-3619-3p, and hsa-miR-7152-3p) related to BCL-xL. Conclusions: The current findings unveil the biological implications of BCL-xL in PDAC and the related molecular functions and miRNA families.

White spirit poisoning: An unusual cause of hepatic portal venous gas.

Traditionally, the presence of air within the hepatic portal venous system has been considered a rather ominous sign as it has been associated with conditions of increased associated morbidity and mortality such as bowel ischemia and intraabdominal sepsis. However, benign conditions, not requiring any particular intervention, have been implemented in the etiology, as well. In the present report, we present the case of the accidental ingestion of white spirit as a rather unusual cause of hepatic portal vein gas. A 32-year-old, otherwise healthy, male was admitted to the emergency department following the accidental ingestion of a "sip," approximately 15 ml, of white spirit. The patient was complaining of nausea and upper abdominal pain that started soon after the ingestion of caustic agent. An imaging investigation with a computed tomography scan (CT) of the abdomen revealed the presence of hepatic portal vein gas along with a diffuse edema of the gastric wall at the site of the lesser curvature. A follow-up CT, 2 days after the admission, revealed no evidence of hepatic portal venous gas. Based on the patient's good general condition, an expectant management was decided. No intervention was required, oral feeding was recommenced after 6 days of fasting and the patient was discharged 8 days after the admission. Hepatic portal venous gas is a very impressive imaging finding with remarkably diverse etiology and prognostic correspondence. Irrespective of the cause, an approach of managing patients with hepatic portal venous gas according to their clinical condition appears reasonable.

Microvessel density in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Microvessel density (MVD) has been proposed as a direct quantification method of tumor neovascularization. However, the current literature regarding the role of MVD in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) remains inconclusive. AIM: To appraise the effect of tumoral MVD on the survival of patients with DTC. METHODS: This meta-analysis was based on the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The electronic databases Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically screened. A fixed-effects or random-effects model was used, according to the Cochran Q test. The data were then extracted and assessed on the basis of the Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/). RESULTS: A total of nine studies were included in the present study. Superiority of low MVD tumors in terms of 10-year disease free survival (OR: 0.21, 95%CI: 0.08-0.53) was recorded. Lowly vascularized thyroid cancers had a lower recurrence rate (OR: 13.66, 95%CI: 3.03-61.48). Moreover, relapsing tumors [weighed mean difference (WMD): 11.92, 95%CI: 6.32-17.52] or malignancies with regional lymph node involvement (WMD: 8.53, 95%CI: 0.04-17.02) presented with higher tumoral MVD values. CONCLUSION: MVD significantly correlates with the survival outcomes of thyroid cancer patients. However, considering several study limitations, further prospective studies of higher methodological and quality level are required.